From Father Steven - January 12, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • January 9, 2025

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Please see the reflection below from Fr. Victor.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

_______________________________________

Dear Parishioners of Immaculate Conception,

 

BAPTISM [Lk 3:15-16, 21


We all know that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river of Jordan. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, we saw the Holy Trinity active and present: the Father spoke; the Son was made known by the Father and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. Though we may think at first glance that all the Gospels are the same, Luke wants to present some different and meaningful details. Let us see what he has to say about it.


 For one, Luke does not describe the baptism of Jesus. What was important for Luke was what happened immediately after his baptism. Jesus was PRAYING and he received the Holy Spirit. Prayer is one of Luke's favorite themes: For the first time, we see Jesus in dialogue with the Father. He needs to pray now that he is about to embark on his mission. So that to remain faithful to the Father, he needs to pray.


 After this, like Matthew and Mark, Luke describes the next scene: THE HEAVEN OPENS, The HOLY SPIRIT descended upon him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven:, “YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, WITH WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” [Lk 3: 21f]


 What do those words mean?.


 The “heaven opens” alludes to the Old Testament. For the last centuries before Christ, the people felt that heaven was closed because of their sins and infidelities. No prophets were sent and so they prayed to God: “Do not let your anger go too far or think of our sins forever. O that you would rend the heavens and come down.” [Isaiah 64:1] It is a desperate plea to God, asking him to intervene, even to the point of tearing open the heaven to deliver them.


 Then “the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove and it rested on Jesus. Moved by the Spirit, Jesus will always approach sinners with so much gentleness as a dove. His heart is always moved with compassion as in the raising of Lazarus and the widow’s only son; feeding of the multitude; healing of the lepers and the blind men; dining with sinners; even inviting himself to Zacchaeus’ house, etc.


“You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” “You are my Son” is from Psalm 2:7, presents Jesus as the Father’s Son, guaranteeing His presence in Jesus’ words and works. So that “to see me, is to see the Father,” [Jn 14:9]  Jesus told Philip during the last supper. In our baptism, the Father repeats the same words to us, “you are my son, you are my daughter,” and so we become God’s own children too.


The Beloved alludes to Isaac, the beloved son of Abraham. Jesus, the new Isaac, is the Father’s beloved Son who will ultimately be offered as a sacrifice for forgiveness of sins for our salvation. 


“In him, I am well pleased.” Why? Because “He comes to do the will of the one who sent him.” [Jn 6:38] He enters into the waters of Jordan ‘to wash away the sins of the world’ and to give his life “as a ransom for many.” [Is 53:11f]


Having said these, so what’s in it for me? What is the Good News?


 Jesus’ baptism not only foreshadows his own suffering, death and resurrection but also ours, if we remain in him. His descent into the Jordan River foretells the saving acts of death and resurrection. Through his baptism, we were born into the womb of Mother Church, making us adopted children of God, our Father. And victorious over sin and death, Jesus has secured for us twofold blessings: the promise of eternal life and a participation in the Triune God’s divine life.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Victor

 

From Father Steven - February 15, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • February 13, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, We all know that God is love and that He does everything to help us attain salvation. However, we are not always aware of the graces He has prepared for us. At other times, we do not take advantage of the opportunities when they are offered to us. This week, I would like to briefly highlight some special opportunities that will be given to us in the coming days. This Sunday, after the 11:00am Mass, we will offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for those who need it. For a long time, it was known as the Last Rites or Extreme Unction. Therefore, it still carries the taboo that only those who are dying should receive this sacrament. The Rite of Anointing tells us that there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. As its name indicates, this sacrament is for those who are facing serious illness, undergoing surgery, or experiencing the frailty of old age. When the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given, we pray that, if it be God’s will, the person may be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is spiritual healing, by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. It is very important for those who are facing something serious to receive the grace of the sacrament in order to be helped by God. Therefore, we urge anyone who needs it to ask for the sacrament. If you know someone who is in a nursing home, they should also receive the sacrament while conscious in order to be helped by God. Unfortunately, sometimes people wait until it is too late. This Sunday, after the 11:00am Mass, we will have a small celebration for anyone who needs the sacrament. It can also be scheduled by calling the office. From Sunday to Monday, we will have the opportunity to spend time with Jesus during 24 hours of adoration. Considering that Monday is a holiday, it is a special moment to slow down our lives and recharge the battery of our soul. This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. There will be other opportunities to continue receiving God’s grace, such as praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. Next weekend we will be holding a retreat for couples to help and sanctify their relationship. Do not miss it. Finally, on Saturday, 2/28, Sister Olga will be leading us in a Lenten Parish Mission from 12:30–2:00pm. Finally, I would like to touch very briefly on something that I will later dedicate more time to expanding upon. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about adultery as when a person who was married before, and after a divorce marries another person. This is different from separation. The promise made before God is to be faithful in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, all the days of one’s life. Therefore, that promise cannot be broken until death. If there are problems that lead to a separation, there are still ways to live a holy life. We have prepared a team to assist couples who would like to begin the process of nullity of their marriage. Soon, I will write a bulletin letter with details about what it is and what it is not, and set up a meeting to explain it better. I also take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has not received the Sacrament of Marriage (who was not married in the Church) to do so. It can be a very simple process to receive an immense grace!  Let us not pass up these opportunities to receive God’s grace. He walks with us every step of the way and sustains and strengthens us with the Sacraments and through the love and concern of the Church. He also respects our free will. If we are not open to grace or simply refuse it, then there is very little He can do. He will never give up on us! Let us not give up on Him either! God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - February 8, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • February 6, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Please see the letter below from David and Stephanie Ringland, our parishioners, about the upcoming Couples Retreat February 21st. This will be a wonderful day for our couples!! This retreat is for couples of all ages and stages committed to growing deeper in love, in faith and in God’s Calling. The day will include meaningful conversations, guided workshops, stories and lunch. This is designed to strengthen connection and renew commitment. We are looking forward to seeing you! God Bless, Fr. Steven ———————————————- Greetings Fellow Parishioners! Are you distracted? There are so many things in the world today that compete for your time and attention, whether it's the late-night work deadlines, the news feed on your cell phone, the ads on the radio, who or what was posted on Facebook, or the what's playing next on your TV....to name a few of them. We have all become desensitized by the remarkable availability of these distractions in our lives. As a result, it has become easier to be drawn away from the relationships that actually matter to us as we focus on those other things. If you have been together for a while, maybe it is the distraction of money, material wealth and competition with a family that seems to be perfect from the outside, or even coveting your neighbor's spouse. It's mostly unintentional, but over time, the detachment and avoidance of the negatives in a relationship can impact a couple and become significant obstacles that can feel insurmountable at times. As we age, just like interest, these things compound and can feel heavy to the point of breaking. We become tired and feel beaten and abused, but can’t identify the source of it. In reality, it is the overwhelming weight of complacency that rests on our shoulders that can lead to finger pointing and accusations when anything goes out of the ordinary. If you have children, like we do, you can see this manifest in the way that their attention is diverted from helping around the house or helping each other, or how quickly a task like homework can evolve into mindless scrolling when an electronic is involved. Their behavior may echo what they see and the complacency that many of us have fallen victim to. That is why when we learned that there would be a couple's retreat in February, we were happy to become involved. Not only is it a great example of how vibrant the parish is here at Immaculate Conception, but it's a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with each other in a no-judgment zone. We welcome the chance to spend some time with each other to rediscover the Holy Spirit's presence within our relationship, and how our love for each other will be magnified by the end of the day on February 21st. Whether you are married, engaged, or a couple that has been dating for 20 years, we invite you to join us for part of a day at a retreat that is guaranteed to be nothing short of profoundly moving and entertaining! Should you know a couple going through a rough patch or one that has been dating for 20 years, bring them too! You may be the catalyst that they need to revitalize their love or finally make the commitment. Childcare will be available during the event in order for you to make your date-day at Immaculate Conception. Your date-night is up to you, but we know that it will be extra special with the one you love. God bless, David & Stephanie Ringland